Agricultural News

According to the latest Crop Progress report issued Monday, June 25, 2018 by the United States Department of Agriculture, 5 percent of the US corn crop has achieved the silking stage this week, ahead of last year by 1 point and the five-year average by 2 points. The cropís condition this week rates 5 percent poor to very poor, 18 percent fair and 77 percent good to excellent. The US soybean crop, meanwhile, is reported to be 95 percent emerged, just ahead of the previous year at this time by 2 points and 6 points better than the average. Blooming exceeds last year and the average at 12 percent complete this week. The cropís current condition rates 5 poor to very poor, 22 fair and 73 percent good to excellent. Finally, the US winter wheat crop this week continues to be harvested, now at approximately 41 percent complete, compared to last yearís pace of 39 percent for this time and the average of 33 percent. Wheatís current condition is rated at 34 percent poor to very poor, 29 fair and 37 good to excellent.

In Oklahoma, winter wheat harvested reached 92 percent, up 4 points from the previous year. Wheatís condition in Oklahoma rates this week, 62 percent poor to very poor, 28 fair and 10 good to excellent. Canola harvested reached 96 percent, up 8 points from the previous year. Canolaís condition is 62 percent poor to very poor, 25 fair and 13 good to excellent. Corn silk reached 21 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. Corn emerged reached 99 percent. Cornís condition is rated at 3 poor to very poor, 18 fair and 79 good to excellent. Sorghum planted reached 69 percent, down 24 points from the previous year. Sorghum headed reached 5 percent, up 4 points from the previous year. Sorghumís condition is 3 poor to very poor, 30 fair and 67 good to excellent. Soybeans planted reached 88 percent, up 5 points from the previous year. Soybeans emerged reached 73 percent, up 6 points from the previous year. Soybeans blooming reached 1 percent. Soybeanís condition this week is 10 poor to very poor, 38 fair and 52 good to excellent. Cotton planted reached 95 percent, down 2 points from the previous year. Cotton squaring reached 18 percent, down 1 point from the previous year but up 3 points from normal. Cottonís condition is 15 percent poor to very poor, 40 fair and 45 good to excellent. Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 78 percent good to fair.

Finally, for Texas, rain has halted wheat harvest in areas of the Northern High Plains while producers were plowing small grain residual in the Blacklands. Dryland cotton continues to struggle in the Southern High Plains and the Northern Low Plains as some producers plant sorghum on dryland cotton acres that had failed to emerge. Cotton is blooming in South Central Texas while some Dryland corn is being harvested for silage in the Cross Timbers. Winter wheat in Texas this week is 71 percent harvested, behind last year by 14 but on par with the average. Wheatís condition rates 19 good to excellent, 31 fair and 50 percent poor to very poor. Cornís condition this week in Texas rates 41 percent good to excellent, 34 fair and 25 percent poor to very poor. Silked is at 57 percent complete this week, ahead of last year by 1 and the average by 4. Dough is at 34 percent complete, behind last year by 3 and ahead of the average by 4. Dented is at 18 percent this week, better than the average by 2 but behind last year by 4. Cotton squaring is rated this week at 23 percent complete, trailing last yearís progress by 4 but beating the average by 3 points. Setting bolls is at 10 percent, ahead of last year by 1 and the average by 3. Cottonís condition is at 22 good to excellent, 48 fair and 30 poor to very poor. Sorghum headed is 57 percent complete this week, compared to 58 last year and 53 the average. Coloring is at 39 percent, compared to 40 last year and 34 the average. Mature rates at 20 percent, which is on par with last year and ahead of the average of 15. Sorghumís condition is at 30 good to excellent, 40 fair and 30 poor to very poor. Lastly, soybeans emerged this week is at 97 percent, near 94 last year and 92 for the average. Blooming is at 35 percent, compared to 49 last year and 32 the average. Soybeanís condition rates 44 percent good to excellent, 42 percent fair and 14 poor to very poor.